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Outdoors

May 8, 2018 by The Twisted Yarn 24 Comments

Yikes, I did NOT intend to go quiet on you for so long, but there’s scarcely even been time to knit/crochet! What with the twinnage, and redeveloping the garden, and lots of new patients to assess at work, and a stonking big yarn-related writing commission, and marathon training, and… and… and…

I’m sure you get the gist.

Meanwhile, here are some bluebells at Badbury Hill that we saw the other day.

Talking of marathon prep, it turns out that there’s more to the training than just eating all the pasta, so I’ve been upping my running… and eating all the pasta. If anyone looks at me funny, I just mutter “carb loading” and carry on munching. The fact that I’m also choc-loading and wine-loading is entirely beside the point. Fortunately, there are some lovely tracks to be discovered in south Oxfordshire, well away from any roads:-

The other day, I ran 17 fairly hilly miles (that’s 27km) in the baking noon-day sun. I had no particular route pre-planned, so I just lolloped along, making it up as I went, and darting down promising-looking footpaths.

This footpath looked particularly promising, but steep.

There’s something wonderful about the freedom of thinking, “See that hill over there? Maybe I’ll run to that, next.” And when you’re running 17 miles, you can scamper across a fair ol’ chunk of the county before you have to start paying attention to where you are and how you might find your way home.

I passed a life-size bronze model of a rhino (its rear circled here in red – sorry for lack of better photographic evidence, but I was quite tired and wobbly by this point)…

…and I nearly tripped over an inattentive but very real rabbit. I was crashed into by a speeding bike (yeah thanks mate – no don’t worry, I’m fine), and I made friends with an orange-tip butterfly that followed along beside me for a truly surprising distance beside a nuclear research facility. (Yeah, I run no faster than an insect with a wingspan of one inch. Thanks for the reminder.)

And there was me thinking it was just a natural healthy glow from having run so far…

All in all, a pretty ordinary run, albeit one that took exactly three hours to complete.

It’s been good to get outdoors, and not just for running. The twinnage, the twisted seniors (my parents), and I went to inspect some local bluebells at Badbury Hill, and how beautiful was the sight?

There was wild garlic, too.

And ferns.

I wish I could show you the twinnage as they bounded along, each holding a stick, and announcing each new discovery of a bird or an insect. But they might reach adulthood and sue me for spamming the internet with their sweet faces and frankly, I can’t afford the legal fees. So you’ll just have to put up with another bluebell instead, because bluebells rarely sue.

May is – in my arrogant opinion – about as perfect as months  get. It’s the ideal month for being outdoors. But I do have knitting to show you, I really do. There are finished-yarny-object posts coming next, and they’re colourful. I’ve been knitting when I can, at the twinnage’s music group:-

And at the twinnage’s swimming lesson:-

So my next few posts will be yarn-related. But in the meantime, one of the twinnage came over to where I was writing in my usual notebook, and asked what I was doing. “Just writing a blog post,” I said, at which point he decided that he wanted to help. Here’s his contribution. He loves horses more than almost anything else in the world, and if he had a blog, this is what it would be about:-

Definitely a future blogger, don’t you think?

 

Filed Under: Outdoors Tagged With: Badbury, bluebells, crochet, horses, knitting, May, outdoors, Oxfordshire, running, Spring, twinnage

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Comments

  1. captelaine says

    May 8, 2018 at 10:04 pm

    So how’d he find out the names of the horses? I have a guilty confession, when I was a little girl (a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away) there was a farm with horses and cows, that I could reach the back fence of thru the woods. I used to bring the horses, apples, carrots etc and catch them and ride them bare back… I don’t think the farmer would have liked it (nor would my Mom) but neither of them ever found out. Don’t let your son read this, he might get bad ideas from it.

    Reply
    • Susan says

      May 9, 2018 at 2:08 pm

      Wait. You rode the cows too?!?!

      Reply
  2. Mary Karr says

    May 8, 2018 at 10:06 pm

    Thanks for the lovely work break 🙂

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      May 8, 2018 at 10:11 pm

      You’re very welcome. Thanks for the kind words.

      Reply
  3. notewords says

    May 8, 2018 at 10:18 pm

    Great post! Made me tired to read it though. My limit is walking about 5km in an hour. Love your son’s contribution. ????

    Reply
  4. daisy says

    May 8, 2018 at 10:34 pm

    gorgeous pics of bluebells … i was raised in england but now live in US … we have lupines here but no bluebells and i do miss them.

    Reply
  5. Lynn Lilley says

    May 8, 2018 at 11:01 pm

    We left England many years ago but I always think of the bluebells in the woods in the month of May, thank you so much for the lovely pictures, so many memories to cherish!!

    Reply
  6. SisterJoyous says

    May 8, 2018 at 11:07 pm

    Aw, the Twisted one is back!! Sounds like you’ve been hugely busy, I’ve no idea how you fit it all in, you’re a champion time-juggler. Anyway, just to say that I’m away on a work trip in Montreal, far, far away from my native Sheffield, and even though it sounds fabulous I’m quite lonely so it was extra-great to see your post pop up in my email. Thanks for the amazing photos of English loveliness, I’m cheering you on with your running, and your boy’s horse post is AWESOME!! Love and appreciation from A Regular Reader XXX

    Reply
  7. Faye Maplestone says

    May 8, 2018 at 11:50 pm

    Love the photos. Beautiful ! I laughed when you said you fell over a bunny…. my mad runner daughter, also ran at weekend. Camped out overnight, and had trouble with wombats a plenty. They invaded the campsite, and tried to knock over their portable food container,nipped one of the runners when he intervened, and generally made a nuisance of themselves.
    Her photos are less picturesque. Enjoy those bluebell, they are simply stunning. Good luck with the knitting and running . Love from “down under”. Faye

    Reply
  8. juliascreativeyear says

    May 9, 2018 at 7:18 am

    Can he take a photo of the horse pen to go with his writing please? I’d love to see the shire horses????

    Reply
  9. Tinke says

    May 9, 2018 at 9:21 am

    Splendid! 27 km, wow, you’re doing well. And for that nuke facility, I don’t think we’re made for atomic speed. Please don’t put your kids online. I hate it when others do. We had a case of cyber bullying because of (strange?) birth pics going around school of a 15 year old. And all other weirdo’s online using your pics. Spoil us with lots of knitting with feet pics instead ;>P

    Reply
  10. nanacathy2 says

    May 9, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    Well done twin. I would very much like to see a photo of the horses.
    Love the llok of all that knitting. I think the first week of May is as near perfect as it gets and when you were lollaping at butterfly pace I doing some garden chair testing in the garden!

    Reply
  11. annieb9 says

    May 9, 2018 at 2:49 pm

    Enjoyed reading this post, as I have done on numerous occasions without letting you know it. Thank you for a spot of peaceful beauty to start my day, feeling wistful.

    Reply
  12. kimmymz says

    May 9, 2018 at 3:23 pm

    My computer screensaver looks just like the blueberries at Badbury Hill. I always wondered where that photo was taken. Must have been there because I doubt there are few places on earth as beautiful as that… Yes, I too have done my share of knitting while waiting at sporting and other events. Kind of a nice feeling to be accomplishing two things at once – or maybe several since you are also taking pictures.

    Reply
  13. narf7 says

    May 9, 2018 at 7:19 pm

    I can see the opportunity for the horsey twin to make some serious coin from mum writing the copy for her blog posts and freeing her up for larking about the countryside taking some seriously delicious photos. Your phone needs an award! Kudos on the training and the discipline to keep doing it. You don’t even have an “Earl” as the daily incentive to head out into the never-never wilderness and hurtle yourself around the countryside so you must be seriously self motivated. Awesome job on all counts including the parenting Ms T ????

    Reply
  14. Anne Allen says

    May 9, 2018 at 9:28 pm

    Can’t wait to read more yarn related stories. Love the bluebells
    Anne

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      May 13, 2018 at 8:20 pm

      Thank you. 🙂

      Reply
  15. Gallivanta says

    May 10, 2018 at 10:28 am

    So one of the twinnage has inherited your blogging skills. Has the other inherited your knitting skills?

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      May 13, 2018 at 8:20 pm

      Hmmm, not yet…

      Reply
  16. Jackie Webb says

    May 10, 2018 at 1:49 pm

    I used to work in the local primary school and it had its own woodland attached. It was a carpet of blue in May with bluebells and I loved it. It was designated as ancient woodland so the council couldn’t pinch it to build on it either.

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      May 13, 2018 at 8:20 pm

      That sounds just about perfect.

      Reply
  17. tracy hogan says

    May 11, 2018 at 12:30 pm

    I admire your ambition; writing, running, knitting and family. You go girl! Thank you for sharing with us, I thoroughly enjoy your posts.

    Reply
    • The Twisted Yarn says

      May 13, 2018 at 8:19 pm

      Thank you for such kindness. (I fear it’s OVER-ambition, though!)

      Reply
  18. quietwatercraft says

    May 16, 2018 at 8:29 am

    I would definitely read that blog.
    You must have a time turner at the very least to fit that much activity in, I’m worn out just reading about it!

    Reply

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Eight years ago today, I started thetwistedyarn.com. It was just a place to talk (and talk) about knitting. Gradually it became a place to photograph knitting and wildlife, too... and garden stuff, which led to the @the.twisted.garden page. Little did I know that my blog would lead to meeting you creative, witty, wonderful lot, plus a book deal, and some treasured real-life friends, a quarterly column in 'Simply Knitting' magazine, membership of the Stylecraft Blogstars, a TV appearance, and plenty else besides.
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If you're thinking of starting a blog, I have one very important piece of advice: DO IT!
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(I wheel this photo out almost every year. It's the cake that the Stoic Spouse commissioned for my first blogiversary. It was delicious as well as beautiful, but unsubtle hints have thus far failed to persuade him to bake or order any further bloggy gateaux.)
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#blogiversary #knitting #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting

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.
If you`re thinking of starting a blog, I have one very important piece of advice: DO IT!
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(I wheel this photo out almost every year. It`s the cake that the Stoic Spouse commissioned for my first blogiversary. It was delicious as well as beautiful, but unsubtle hints have thus far failed to persuade him to bake or order any further bloggy gateaux.)
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#blogiversary #knitting #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting
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486 35

thetwistedyarn

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Jan 14

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Uh-oh. #knittingwithcats @stylecraftyarns

Uh-oh. #knittingwithcats @stylecraftyarns ...

227 15

thetwistedyarn

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Jun 21

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The twinnage still like to stretch their creativity on 'the chair'. ❤ I'm worried that this chap is repairing the chimney whilst the fire is lit and smoke is emerging!

The twinnage still like to stretch their creativity on `the chair`. ❤ I`m worried that this chap is repairing the chimney whilst the fire is lit and smoke is emerging! ...

188 17

thetwistedyarn

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Dec 2

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Re-reading this fascinating book - Interaction Of Colo(u)r by Josef Albers - whilst I write the chapter about using colour in stranded knitting for my own book. Highly recommend the Albers book if you fancy a really deep dive into how and why colours behave so differently, depending on their neighbours. 
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisletechniques #fairisleknitting #fairisledesign #fairislefriday

Re-reading this fascinating book - Interaction Of Colo(u)r by Josef Albers - whilst I write the chapter about using colour in stranded knitting for my own book. Highly recommend the Albers book if you fancy a really deep dive into how and why colours behave so differently, depending on their neighbours.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisletechniques #fairisleknitting #fairisledesign #fairislefriday
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141 2

thetwistedyarn

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Mar 11

Open
Good morning, lovely people. Isn't knitting just the BEST distraction?
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisleknitting #Fairisle #knitdesigner #knitspo #stylecraftspecial #stylecraftspecialdk #knitspiration #fairislefriday #garn #strikke #virkning

Good morning, lovely people. Isn`t knitting just the BEST distraction?
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisleknitting #Fairisle #knitdesigner #knitspo #stylecraftspecial #stylecraftspecialdk #knitspiration #fairislefriday #garn #strikke #virkning
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302 9

thetwistedyarn

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Aug 15

Open
I usually just post stuff like this at my garden account - @the.twisted.garden - but I thought you might appreciate the colour. 
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Love this time of year, because there are so many different crops to be picked. Today: cabbage, beans, peas, broccoli, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, patty pan squash, opium poppies (for seed), plums, Japanese wineberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Yum.

I usually just post stuff like this at my garden account - @the.twisted.garden - but I thought you might appreciate the colour.
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Love this time of year, because there are so many different crops to be picked. Today: cabbage, beans, peas, broccoli, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, patty pan squash, opium poppies (for seed), plums, Japanese wineberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Yum.
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263 23

thetwistedyarn

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Apr 16

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Kittens sitting in the crocheted garden. By the way, someone pointed out that there's a fake account pretending to be me: it's at thetwistedyarn_  I can't view it because they've blocked me, but if any kind soul would be kind enough to report it, I'd be very grateful. Thank you, my Fine Fibrous Friends!

Kittens sitting in the crocheted garden. By the way, someone pointed out that there`s a fake account pretending to be me: it`s at thetwistedyarn_ I can`t view it because they`ve blocked me, but if any kind soul would be kind enough to report it, I`d be very grateful. Thank you, my Fine Fibrous Friends! ...

299 75

thetwistedyarn

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Jan 29

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There's a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com, or see link in comments.

There`s a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com, or see link in comments. ...

187 0

thetwistedyarn

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Nov 22

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Crunching numbers for a pattern for @stylecraftyarns . Crunch, crunch, crunch. I love-hate this stage. 
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#knitdesigner #stylecraftyarns #stylecraft #nevernotknitting #knittingpatterns #knittingpattern #yarn #garn #strikke #virkning #strikkedilla #knitspo #knitspiration #winterknitting

Crunching numbers for a pattern for @stylecraftyarns . Crunch, crunch, crunch. I love-hate this stage.
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#knitdesigner #stylecraftyarns #stylecraft #nevernotknitting #knittingpatterns #knittingpattern #yarn #garn #strikke #virkning #strikkedilla #knitspo #knitspiration #winterknitting
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113 3

thetwistedyarn

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May 3

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New blog post! See thetwistedyarn.com or link in bio. Warning: contains personal inadequacy and failure.

New blog post! See thetwistedyarn.com or link in bio. Warning: contains personal inadequacy and failure. ...

228 8

thetwistedyarn

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May 27

Open
Fancy a new blog post? See link in bio or visit thetwistedyarn.com. @novitaknits

Fancy a new blog post? See link in bio or visit thetwistedyarn.com. @novitaknits ...

83 1

thetwistedyarn

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Aug 3

Open
Previous design didn't work, but this one will. This is FUN.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #knittersofinsta #strandedknitting #virkning #garn #strikke #strikkedilla #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting #fairisleknitting #fairisle @stylecraftyarns #stylecrafthighlandheathers

Previous design didn`t work, but this one will. This is FUN.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #knittersofinsta #strandedknitting #virkning #garn #strikke #strikkedilla #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting #fairisleknitting #fairisle @stylecraftyarns #stylecrafthighlandheathers
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271 12

thetwistedyarn

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Nov 2

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Knitting on the rug beside the first fire of the season.

Knitting on the rug beside the first fire of the season. ...

175 7

thetwistedyarn

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Mar 16

Open
There's a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (or see link in bio). It's a little different from normal, as it pays tribute to my recently deceased aunt. But don't worry, normal yarny shenanigans will resume next post. 
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#copingwithgrief #grief #funeral

There`s a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (or see link in bio). It`s a little different from normal, as it pays tribute to my recently deceased aunt. But don`t worry, normal yarny shenanigans will resume next post.
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#copingwithgrief #grief #funeral
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148 8

thetwistedyarn

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Dec 14

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There's a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (or see link in bio). Just sayin'.

There`s a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (or see link in bio). Just sayin`. ...

162 3

thetwistedyarn

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Jun 2

Open
Places you can knit: deep underground in a cave!
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#knittinginpublic #knitinpublic #placesyoucanknit @novitaknits

Places you can knit: deep underground in a cave!
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#knittinginpublic #knitinpublic #placesyoucanknit @novitaknits
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109 0

thetwistedyarn

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Mar 5

Open
New blog post, right here: https://thetwistedyarn.com/2022/03/05/blue-and-yellow/

New blog post, right here: https://thetwistedyarn.com/2022/03/05/blue-and-yellow/ ...

174 4

thetwistedyarn

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Oct 31

Open
There's a new blog post in town. See link in bio or explore thetwistedyarn.com.

There`s a new blog post in town. See link in bio or explore thetwistedyarn.com. ...

157 5

thetwistedyarn

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May 22

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Sunday morning stitchery, fuelled by green tea. Watching insects bumbling about amongst the #nomowmay grass. Enjoying @novitaknits yarn.

Sunday morning stitchery, fuelled by green tea. Watching insects bumbling about amongst the #nomowmay grass. Enjoying @novitaknits yarn. ...

138 3

thetwistedyarn

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Jul 26

Open
For those of you remember Robyn-the-robin (my cheeky avian friend who fed from my hand and generally bossed me about for two summers), you may be interested in this. Here's a fledgling robin who hasn't even got his/her red chest yet, but follows me VERY closely around the garden. We've just had a little chat over some mealworms, and I'm optimistic that we'll be friends. 
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#robin #gardenbirds #tamebirds #gardenforwildlife

For those of you remember Robyn-the-robin (my cheeky avian friend who fed from my hand and generally bossed me about for two summers), you may be interested in this. Here`s a fledgling robin who hasn`t even got his/her red chest yet, but follows me VERY closely around the garden. We`ve just had a little chat over some mealworms, and I`m optimistic that we`ll be friends.
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#robin #gardenbirds #tamebirds #gardenforwildlife
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573 36

thetwistedyarn

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Jun 1

Open
Knitting and walking in the sunshine. ❤ 
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#knitspo #knitspiration #knitinpublic #knittinginpublic #knittingandwalking  #nevernotknitting @novitaknits #novitaknits #knitdesigner

Knitting and walking in the sunshine. ❤
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#knitspo #knitspiration #knitinpublic #knittinginpublic #knittingandwalking #nevernotknitting @novitaknits #novitaknits #knitdesigner
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130 2

thetwistedyarn

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May 11

Open
View from a sofa, as I contemplate ideas for a new blog post (that'll doubtless take weeks to be drafted and re-re-re-re-re-drafted).

View from a sofa, as I contemplate ideas for a new blog post (that`ll doubtless take weeks to be drafted and re-re-re-re-re-drafted). ...

168 18

thetwistedyarn

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May 2

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I finished designing a thing. @novitaknits yarns are lush. 🙂
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedknitting #strandedcolorwork #fairisletechniques #fairislefriday #fairisledesign #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting #novitaknits #novita #garn #strikkedilla #strikke #virkning #knitspo #knitspiration

I finished designing a thing. @novitaknits yarns are lush. 🙂
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedknitting #strandedcolorwork #fairisletechniques #fairislefriday #fairisledesign #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting #novitaknits #novita #garn #strikkedilla #strikke #virkning #knitspo #knitspiration
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352 48

thetwistedyarn

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Aug 3

Open
New blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (see link in bio). Includes happy times with fellow Stylecraft Blogstars.

New blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (see link in bio). Includes happy times with fellow Stylecraft Blogstars. ...

159 10

thetwistedyarn

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May 9

Open
My implausibly awesome friend @buttonspickles has just published this sock pattern. This a woman who seriously knows her cables and her socks, so this pattern is worth checking out. There's a link in her bio for purchase.

My implausibly awesome friend @buttonspickles has just published this sock pattern. This a woman who seriously knows her cables and her socks, so this pattern is worth checking out. There`s a link in her bio for purchase. ...

109 4
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